From rigged taxes to the free gift con, all the tricks scammers use to target YOU on holiday
WITH the summer holidays in full swing, travellers would do well to be wary of scammers spoiling their trips abroad.
A British tourist was recently charged £490 for an £8 taxi fare in Paris after a cabbie got her out of his car, claiming his internet connection was poor, changed the amount on the card reader, then got her to pay through the window.
In-person payments like this don’t offer the same automatic protection against fraud as bank transfers.
Around one in every 20 British holidaymakers falls victim to some sort of physical or digital scam while travelling overseas, and more than 9.4million have been caught out over the past five years.
Graeme Buck, Abta’s director of communications, said: “Always apply the same personal safety rules that you would at home, and read the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for the destination you are travelling to.”
With millions of us jetting off this month and next, we reveal tricks con artists use to target you, as well as tips on how to keep your hard-earned holiday cash safe.
CLEAN BANDITS
IF you suddenly find an “accidental” dollop of ketchup, spilt coffee or fake bird droppings on your jacket or bag and an over-friendly local steps in to dab it off with tissues, keep your wits about you.
While you are distracted by the person cleaning you, their accomplice will rifle through your pockets and help themselves to valuables.
BED RECEPTION
TIRED after a long day travelling, you check in at your hotel and head off to bed.
Then someone claiming to be from reception calls to explain there is a glitch with the card you have just used, and they ask you to verify again your payment details over the phone.
But it could be a scammer after your money.
Never give card details over the phone. Go down to the desk to verify what the caller said.
JUICE JACKING
SNAPPING holiday photos can drain your phone’s batteries.
Exploiting this vulnerability, scammers tamper with public USB charging ports in hotels, cafes and aiports to steal data such as bank information, or to infect your mobile with malware.
Plug your own charger into a standard wall outlet or use a USB data blocker (an adapter that cuts off data transfer).
Or safer still, invest in a portable power bank.
Always tap “don’t trust” if a pop-up asks to share data.
FREE GRIFT
Couples tend to be a magnet for this sort of con in Paris, Milan, Rome and other European cities.
A stranger hands you a flower or ties a bracelet to your wrist, then demands a large cash payment — or the fake act of kindness is a distraction technique for pickpocketing.
Refuse the item and walk away.
THE SELFIE STEAL
WOMEN are mostly the target for this scam.
A random friendly couple asks you to take their photo.
The request might seem harmless — but do not oblige if they then ask you to join them for a selfie.
Once up close they’ll grab your purse, phone, watch and jewellery — and because they’re experts at what they do, you won’t feel a thing.
THE FRIENDLY WAITER
WHILE out sightseeing, you bump into a waiter who claims to recognise you and says: “I served you last night at dinner at your hotel. Don’t you remember?”
This is a red flag. Unsuspecting holidaymakers have told how they were conned into a “cheaper tour” by someone pretending to be their waiter, and intimidated into buying items from their friends’ shops — only to discover the conman didn’t work in their hotel at all.
Scammers can know where you are staying just by looking at your wristband, so turn it inside out when venturing outside the hotel.
PEA & CUP GAME
THE trickster lines up cups, hides a pea under one and moves them around.
You’re encouraged to bet on which one contains the pea.
A couple who are in on the scam get it right — and because you can see where the pea is, you then take a risk.
You win the first round but lose the rest.
One victim explained: “They won’t let you get away until you’re skint, and you’ll find it very intimidating. Just walk on by.”
TAKEN FOR A RIDE
A taxi driver insists the meter is broken, takes longer routes or charges hidden fees for the ride.
Or, upon picking you up from the airport or station, they claim your booked hotel is closed, under renovation or in a dangerous location.
The driver offers to take you to a better hotel where they get a commission for your new booking.
Always ensure the meter is running, use trusted apps such as Uber, Bolt or Freenow, or pre-book air-port transfers before your trip via a trusted site.
There’s a tourist Facebook site for many destinations, so head to the relevant one for transfer recommendations.
WHATSAPP TRAP
Scammers hack legitimate hotel and Airbnb messaging accounts so they can message guests shortly before arrival.
The con artists claim your booking will be cancelled unless you re-enter your card details, often via a WhatsApp or phishing link.
Never pay or click links outside the official app platform.
JUST SIGN HERE
TRICKSTERS — usually groups of young people — approach British tourists near major sights asking them to sign an English petition for a deaf charity or human rights cause.
While you are holding the board to read the details or sign, they pressure you for cash or pickpocket you.
TICKET TRICK
Hanging around busy stations such as Paris Gare du Nord or Rome Termini, swindlers posing as transit staff or helpful locals offer to assist you with the complicated ticket machines.
They will overcharge you, snatch your change or sell you cheap child-fare or invalid tickets.
